How Long Must I Wait Between a Bone Graft and a Dental Implant?
According to Mayo Clinic, the wait time required between a bone graft and a dental implant depends solely on the condition of the person’s jaw bone. For a minor bone grafting, the two procedures can usually be performed in the same appointment. For the most severe cases, the wait could be as much as nine months between two operations. Mayo Clinic explains that this gives the body time to recover.
Mayo Clinic states that the total procedure time is extended by prolonged periods of waiting in order to allow the body time to heal before the next appointment. Because this healing period fluctuates, the full process from beginning to completion can range from three to nine months. Because of the nature of bone grafts, it is common for healing to be required both in the mouth and at the site of the bone extraction prior to transplantation.
Some patients do not require a bone graft at all if it is determined that their jaw bone is thick enough to stabilize a dental implant. A bone graft is only deemed necessary when a the jaw bone is too thin or frail to brace an implant. The purpose of the bone graft is to pull bone from another area of the body and transplant it into the jaw, thereby creating a stronger foundation within which to place the dental implant.
